What Do We Know About Clerics?

[Mathew_Freeman]

Thanks!

Holy words and holy symbol attacks might be analagous to the various implements that the Wizard is using? Does that sound plausible?

So, for example, holy words might stun and confuse, whereas the symbol attacks do more direct damage. I'm extrapolating wildly, but that seems like it could be a really good way for the Cleric to go, in addition to the usual healing / talking to gods schtick.

 

[Blacksmithking]

I'm betting a cleric's holy smybol will, effectively, be an implement, meaning a cleric will gain bonuses (or avoid penalties) when casting with a holy symbol.

I like cloth-caster style clerics, such as the Guild Wars monk and WoW priest. I think the "holy warrior" role is better filled by the 3.5e crusader or 4.e paladin.

Hopefully the divine spell list will be sufficiently broad to support a "cloistered" cleric. If not, I suppose I could multiclass a cleric with wizard or take some "wizard training" feats.

 

[Jack99]

Cleric will be using light armor it seems, and will have buffs that only last the duration of an encounter (so no more long-term book-keeping). These buffs will be more powerful (than what?) due to the short duration.

 

[Carnivorous_Bean]

More options for a pacifist (or at least less combat-oriented) cleric? That's the first thing I've heard about the new edition that's interested me!

 

[TerraDave]

This may be a (multiclassed) cleric using a holy symbol.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

More options for a pacifist (or at least less combat-oriented) cleric? That's the first thing I've heard about the new edition that's interested me!

Yeah, I think 4E may be returning to 2E style multi-option clerics where you can create builds that are structurally, functionally, and thematically very different from each other.

The focus on role means that most builds will do the leader things at least competently, but other issues like combat capability, turning powers, and social graces may vary wildly from character to character.

 

[Aenghus]

From what I understand, the typical 4e cleric will have medium armour proficiency (chainmail was mentioned, currently a medium armour type), second string melee skills, some chained to party buffs including heals, weakened spells compared to 3e, with rituals for some of the out of combat fixing spells like remove diseas and raise dead that are currently spells.

Cleric is my favourite class overall, and a cleric that can provide support while still fighting is a concept I embrace enthusiastically.

While some people have pushed for a divine pure caster more akin to a wizard, it doesn't seem that this is happening, at least for the cleric. As I see it, all the casters are being weakened, and divine magic isn't strong enough to support an unarmoured caster. One idea of 4e is that everyone fights (in their own way), which is opposed to the idea of cloistered clerics. And a sufficiently strong divine caster class would need wizard strength magic, which steps on the wizard's toes.

 

[Jack99]

According to races and classes, the cleric will still be proficient with simple weapons, although some gods will grant the benefit of access to other weapons, just as in 3.5.

 

[KingCrab]

I think they mentioned somewhere that turn undead will be around, but it won't make undead run away?

It won't make them run away but it will... make them feel awkward and unwelcome?

 

[KingCrab]

More options for a pacifist (or at least less combat-oriented) cleric? That's the first thing I've heard about the new edition that's interested me!

I imagine the pacifist cleric still helps their companions cruelly slaughter things in horrible ways.